Added anthias to an established tank

[marcsupial]

Hi there,

I recently purchased 4 Dispar Anthias from my LFS. They had been at the store for a little over a week and looking healthy. I did a drip acclimation on them and then introduced them to my tank around 7pm, an hour before lights out.

For the last 4 days all they do is hang out in the corner of the glass and swim almost vertically. I’m thinking they are perhaps scared of the existing tank inhabitants. In there already I had:
4 PJ Cardinals
1 Tribal Blenny
1 Blue Dot Sleeper Goby
1 Court Jester Goby
1 Firefish
1 Melanarus Wrasse

Everyone’s typically has gotten along with each other up to this point. Just the occasional short chase every now and then. I probably should have used an acclimation box when introducing the Anthias. Anything I can do now to help them adjust?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Dispars are super shy and timid, it will take time for them to be at ease.

 

[Garf]

Perhaps they need more places to hide.

 

[blecki]

All female? Once one begins to transition you may find you have the opposite problem.

Nothing in there now seems like it'd be an issue; but there's also not much rock. Adding some more rock or rearranging what you've got may do the trick. As is all territory is already claimed.

 

[marcsupial]

Thanks for the validation that they are shy and this will probably just take some time. I have considered adding some more rock. I’m starting to venture into corals so I’m a bit hesitant as I want room for them to grow. Maybe I’ll see what pieces of rock the store has later today

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

They do like to hide in the rockwork, they also sleep in the rock work, if they have no where to hide they will be stressed. Anthias don't handle stress very well (my experience with dispars and lyrtails only).

 

[marcsupial]

I believe they’re all female. I don’t see the bright red dorsal or blue glow that I have read the male’s have. Hoping one transitions and I end up with a trio of one male and two females

 

[marcsupial]

They do like to hide in the rockwork, they also sleep in the rock work, if they have no where to hide they will be stressed. Anthias don't handle stress very well (my experience with dispars and lyrtails only).

They do dart in to that large rock work on the right side of the photo when something really scares them and I have seen them sleeping in there as well. The wrasse also likes that same cave so there might be something to everyone’s advice of adding some more hiding spots